Lock for adjustable end wrenches



Jan. 26,1943 v E. ORCHAl QD 2,309,529

LOOK FOR ADJUSTABLE END WRENCHE IS Filed Dec 16, 1940 v {ur s arc/4rd Maw;

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE LOOK FOR ADJUSTABLE END WRENCHES Lewis E. Orchard, Twin Falls, Idaho Application December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,267

2 Claims.

My invention relates to tools and more particularly to those wrenches termed adjustable end wrenches of often called crescent wrenches in which a movable jaw is operated on an angle to the body of the wrench and has for its object to provide a locking means for preventing the common slippage of the jaws when in use.

A further object is to provide a manually controlled catch adapted to engage the finger nut and prevent it from movement until manually disengaged.

These and other objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable end wrench showing my device in use locking the adjusting nut from rotation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the operating portion of the device showing the locking means released from the adjusting nut.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the locking member removed from the wrench.

Figure 4 is a vetical enlarged section of the locking member removed from the wrench body.

In the drawing I have shown the body of the wrench as A having the jaw formed on the end thereof and with the usual socket formed transversely of the jaw in which the adjustable jaw B is operated. There is nothing new in the wrench proper as shown as this is the usual type of end wrench of the adjustable pattern.

The adjusting nut C is modified only so far as the perimeter of the threads is concerned. In this particular the perimeter of the threads is provided with inwardly extended notches in which the locking lug 9 of my lock member engages.

My lock member consists of a body plate D secured to one side of the wrench body A adjacent the nut opening by means of screws 5 and 6 set through extended ears on the side edges of the body plate D. The plate D is provided with an extended bayonet slot 1 with the end 8 slightly curved upwardly toward the end of the body plate D from which the locking lug 9 is extended. The locking lug 9 is formed with the end thereof pointed or beveled on the front and back sides thereof to fit into the notches in the adjusting nut C. A screw l locks the lug 9 in the slots 1 and end 8 for operation therein and a finger plate II is also held into fixed relationship with the lug 9 by the same screw being passed therethrough so that any movement of the finger plate moves the lug 9 in the same manner. The lower end of the plate D is turned inwardly at l2 with a hole [3 therein through which a guide and spring holding rod l4 operates. The rod [4 is secured in the lower end of the lug 9 and a control spring 15 is carried on the rod M to normally hold the lug 9 extended. A spring plate It prevents the end of the spring from passing through the hole I3 as the hole 13 must be a loose fit for the rod l4 in order for the rod to move laterally as the lug 9 is moved.

In some types of wrenches it is necessary to cut a recess in which the lug 9 .operates and in other types the lug may be operated along one side thereof. However it is also easy to cut a slot through the end of the wrench handle and mount the lug 9 and its cooperating parts directly through the handle without the use of the plate D using one side of the handle as the plate and forming the bayonet slot through the side so used. Such modifications and variations are considered an essential part of this invention and within the scope of the claims.

These objects I accomplish with the types of device shown and mentioned and for most wrenches there will be no need of modification of the wrench at all as the end of the lug 9 may be formed at an angle to the body to fit into the notches of the nut C.

The operation of the device is simple. When the jaws of the wrench have been set to fit a given nut the operator engages the lug 9 in the notches of the nut by disengaging the screw 19 from the notch 8 of the bayonet slot 1 and allowing the spring pressure to extend the lug 9 into the notches of the nut C. After use when it is desired to adjust the jaws for another size nut the operator withdraws the lug 9 from the nut C and operates the wrench jaws in the usual manner until it is again desired to lock the nut at which time the lug is again engaged in the notches of the nut.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim:

1. A wrench of the class described comprising a body; a jaw operable therein; an adjustment nut for operating the jaw; notches in the perimeter of the threads of the nut; a guide block attached to one side of said wrench body near said adjustment nut; having a bayonet slot in the top side thereof; a locking lug, having an extended arm, carried in said block with the arm extending in said block; a spring carried on said arm tensioning against said lug to normally hold the lug engaging the notches in the adjustment nut; a screw extending from the lug through said slot; said screw operating through said bayonet slot; and a finger knob on the outer end of said screw by which the lug is withdrawn from the notches of the adjustment nut when desired to rotate the nut.

2. An attachment for adjustable end wrenches having an open end with the opening extending longitudinally of the wrench and having the usual notched adjustment screw mounted transversely of the longitudinal handle to adjust a movable jaw of the wrench, comprising a guide block having a longitudinally arranged bore in which a movable lug may be carried; a lug carried in said block with one end extending therefrom and formed to engage the notches of the adjustment screw; a spring carried in said block to normally hold the lug extended and engaging the notches of said adjustment screw; and a finger plate secured to said lug slidably engaging said block for retracting said lug to free the adjustment screw for manual rotation.

LEWIS E. ORCHARD. 

